How to Cook Steel Cut Oats in an Instant Pot

A warm bowl of oats topped with fresh fruits and/or nuts is the perfect breakfast for cold winter mornings. Steel cut oats are the least processed as compared to other types of oats and may provide longer satiety making them a great choice for breakfast. However, they take longer to cook as compared to other […]

Quick Weeknight Dinner – Mexican Quesadillas

Mexican Quesadillas with Vegetables and Black Beans Serves 8 Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil 1 zucchini, diced into small pieces 1 yellow squash, diced into small pieces 1 red bell pepper, diced into small pieces 1 medium carrot, diced into small pieces 1 small broccoli head, chopped 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and […]

fresh basil in a glass pitcher

Five Ways to Use Fresh Basil

If you grow your own basil during summer, you may have run into a situation when there is too much and you wonder how to use it. While I don’t grow my own basil, I have been fortunate to have a friend who does and her garden has been blooming with fresh, fragrant, delicious basil. […]

instant pot quinoa

Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa

Quinoa is a whole grain that provides complete protein along with other nutrients. It is a great addition to a healthy eating pattern but many people are not familiar with this super food or may not know how to cook it. The recipe below is one of my favorite ways to cook quinoa. It is […]

Spicy Okra Stir-fry

Okra, commonly referred to as Lady Finger in India, is generally a kids’ favorite and was mine as well growing up. It still is one of my favorites and also for my kids now. When I came to the United States, I was surprised that okra was not as popular here. I am sharing the […]

prepared peas in a skillet

Sautéed Green Peas

I will not say that green peas are my favorite vegetable but something about green peas during winter is very comforting to me. Maybe the reason is that they remind me of my childhood days when I sat down with my mom or grandmother and popped them out of their pods so they could be […]

yasso

Healthy Summer Dessert – Yasso Frozen Yogurt

Although not an everyday craving but every now and then, I want to satisfy my sweet tooth with something more indulgent than my usual small piece of dark chocolate – something like ice cream especially during the summer time. I am happy to share that I have found the best substitute for traditional chocolate ice […]

chickpea curry

Quick Chickpea Curry

This May, we are celebrating #MedMonth by eating the Mediterranean way and sharing our favorite recipes. One easy way to start eating the Med way is to swap your meat for plant-based proteins. Beans such as chickpeas, black-eyed peas, red kidney beans, and black beans are not only a great source of plant-based proteins but […]

vegetarian protein

Top 10 Vegetarian Sources of Protein

Is it possible to get enough protein on a vegetarian diet? I get this question quite often from friends and family. Being a vegetarian myself, I am always thinking about ways to add healthy sources of protein in my daily diet. Yes, you can get enough protein on a vegetarian diet. Even if you are […]

Impact of Mindful Eating on Weight

Mindful eating can be defined as eating with awareness, which is compared to eating out of habit or because of an external stimulus (smell, atmosphere, peer pressure). It refers to being aware of one’s physical and emotional sensations while eating or when in a food-related environment. Mindful eating allows a person to pay attention to signs of […]